Cabarrus County, N.C.

Public Health Assessment and Wellness

Nov. 07--A rare disease that can cause paralysis in children is spreading across the country, and the Centers for Disease Control is investigating a potential case in Beaver County.

Called acute flaccid myelitis, the disease has been confirmed in five cases in western Pennsylvania. Of those cases, four are in Allegheny County and one is in Washington County.

Kate Fowlie, a spokeswoman with the CDC, could only say the agency is investigating a potential case in Beaver County. She added that as of Nov. 2, there have been 80 confirmed cases in 25 states. Those 80 confirmed cases are among a total of 219 reports CDC investigated from patients.

In addition to a potential case in Beaver County, the CDC also is exploring another suspected case in Allegheny County.

The Centers for Disease Control describes AFM as a "serious condition that causes weakness in the arms or legs" and is mostly found in children. In most of the cases, the cause of AFM hasn't been determined, and there is no cure or vaccine.

The disease is often referred to as resembling polio.

Despite the fact that CDC is concerned about the disease, the agency cautioned that it is a "very rare condition" with less than one in a million people in the United States diagnosed each year.

No timeline was offered on when CDC might confirm the diagnoses of the suspected case in Beaver County.